Pocket clasp for pens and pencils



Jan. 18, 19727.

J. A. EWEN POCKET 4CLASP FOR PENS AND PENCILS Filed Decg 11. 1924 Hz. Hmm Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. EWEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

POCKET CLASP FOR PENS ANDFPENCILS.

Application filed December 11, 1924.

This invention relates to pocket clasps for holding pens, pencils,Watches and the like. An object of the present invention 1s theprovision of a clasp for attachment in a pocket of a garment, purse orthe like for frictionally receiving a pen or pencil and for retainingthe same against accidental dropping out. The invention is applicablealso for protecting a watch or the like.

Pursuant to the more preferred forms of my invention, the pocket claspcomprises a member provided with resilient spaced corrugations and meansfor suitably positioning the clasp within the pocket. Such spaced andretaining corrugations are preferably formed of a rubber stripcorrugated at spaced depending portions, Which strip is folded uponitself in duplex relation Whereby the oppositely positioned corrugationsform shaped openings of a diameter less than the diameter of a pencil orpen. Such rubber strip may be thickened or reinforced by thin metal tothereby resiliently collapse the spacing and retaining corrugations whenno pen or pencil is inserted in my clasp, and thus reduce the thicknessof the pocket.

In the most preferred forms of my invention the duplex clasp is formedof an endless, flattened ring of rubber having spaced dependingcorrugations, and my clasp is secured by any suitable adhesive or stripsof specially treated rubber interposed between the inner and outermaterials of the garment pocket or the like and my duplex clasp, andaccomplished by pressing with a moderately heated iron. y

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following` detail description and the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of myinvention, shown as inserted in the upper pocket of a vest andillustrating a pen, pencil and a watch safeguarded thereby;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, on agreatly enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a top plan vienT of my aforesaid form of duplex pocket clasp,removed from the pocket;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the aforesaid clasp, showing the same at astage of manu- Selial No. 755,149.

facture lation;

Fig. 5 is a vievv similar to Fig. 1-, but on the opposite side thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of a connecting member forinterlocking the opposing duplex portions of my pocket Vclasp whenfolded;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modiiied embodiment of my invention,in the form of a reinforced rubber strip having depending portions,which strip when folded upon itself forms my duplex clasp;

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of a further modicat-ion, showing myinvention in the form of an endless, flattened ring, constructed to bepositioned in a garment pocket or the `like by means of a thin film ofspecial rubber for cement-ing the clasp and accomplished by pressingwith a flat iron, moderately heated, to thereby press both members ofplie clasp to the garment cloth or lining; anc Y Fig. 9 is a section online 9*-9 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, and 2, my pocket pen and pencil clasp comprisesthe outer strip portion 10 and inner strip portion 11, preferably formedas a single strip and folded upon itself. y

Depending from the respective strip portions 10, 11, are a. plurality ofcorru ated members 12, spaced from one another W ereby upon folding thestrip portions 10, 11, there is provided an opening 13 between each pairof the opposing corrugated members 12 of substantially ellipticalcontour and of a width of opening less than that of a pencil or of apen,` Y

In such form of my invention, the opposing strip portions 10, 1l, arepreferably reinforced by the strip 13 of metal or the like, having thespaced resilient tongues 14, see Fig. 1l. The strip portions 10, 11, aresecured at their upper edge to the reinforcing strip 13 as by the spacedretaining tongues 13a.

Such metal strip 13 may be provided With an outer lip 15, arranged tooverlap the top edge of the pocket 16. Such lip 15 may be covered Withenamel or other covering to suit the color of the garment. The retentionof the rear strip portion 11 may be had by prior to being folded induplex respaced teeth or staples 17, Which are inserted in the innermaterial of the pocket 16 and pressed down.

Upon folding the liront strip portion and the rear strip portion 11 uponone another, the free `ends or" my duplex pocket clasp may beinterconnected by overlapping ,the extensions 18, 19 oli the strip 13upon one another and riveting or soldering to one another.

Preferably, the liront strip portion 10 and the rear strip portion 11oi' my duplex clasp are provided with suitable means for contracting orcollapsing my duplex clasp, as

, is desirable When no pencil or pen or other article inserted therein,to thereby flatten down the vpocket for appearance sake. As

Y one formv of such means, l provide the slot 'i el the slots 20, 21 toposition the retaining member 2-i on one side oli the iront strip por-pi tion 10 and the outer retaining member 25,

on the opposite side oli the rear strip portion 11, and the head 26 islocated between the iront strip portion 10 and the rear strip portion 11and spaced troni the stem portion 23 to enable a linger or the user tograsp the head 2G to slide the locl; 22 as desired.

The rea-r strip portion 11 may be substantially coextensive with theiront strip portion 10, and is preferably Ytermed of rubber or the like,molded to the desired configuration. The strip 13 is preiierably iiormedof metal by punching, to thereby provide the respective parts thereoi.

In lieu oli the iront retaining lip 15, the body of the iiront portion.o' the metal strip 13 may be punched at spaced locations below its upperedge to iiorm one cr more teeth similar to the teeth 12 extendingforwardly oi the front strip portion 10, iior insertion through theiiront lining oii the pocket 1G,

which are then bent to locate such teeth bektween the iront lining andthe outer material oli the pocket 16, and thus conceal such retainingteeth.

If desired, the liront strip portion 10 may be secured to the irontmaterial oii the pocket or the like by one or more clips punched fromthe metal, at the upper edge o'li theV siliently held under tensiontoward one another by the use of a rubber band 27, see Fig. 3, passedenteriorly about the iront strip portion 10 and the rear strip portion11 and inserted in the interstices between two corrugations 12. Suchrubber band 35 may be multiplied lior each pair ot oppositely disposedinterstices.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the use of my duplex pocket clasp l'ior anupper vest pocket. The pencil 2S is shown positioned between tivooppositely disposed corrugations 12, and similarly the pen 29. Fig. 1also illustrates the use of my duplex clasp iior safeguarding a Watch,namely by sliding the sliding lock 22 to the center oii my duplexholder, thereby insuring the safety of the Watch iirom theiit or other'form of loss.

As is indicated in Figs. 3 and 9, when no pen or pencil is inserted, theopposing corrugations 12, 12 contact with one another at their inneriiaces over a large area and that each opening 30 iior receiving a penor pencil is of a liattened elliptical 'liorm and of dimensionsmaterially less than the diameter oli a pen or pencil. Upon inserting apen 28 Within any opening, see Fig. 2, the corrugations 12, 12 on theopposite sides ot the pencil 2S engage the pencil 28 tor the greaterpart oli their lengths and as u'ell encircle the pencil 28.

ln F ig. 7', have .shown another modification oli my invention, namely amolded strip oli rubber, liormed or" iii-ont portion 31 and -a rearportion 32, having the depending membersA 33. The iiront and rearportions 31, are reinforced by greater thickness, see Sil, preii iablyat the upper edge as indicated. Upon iiolding the iiront and rearportions, 31, 32 upon one'anothcr, to locate the thickened portion 3ftezrteriorly, my duplex pocket clasp is then secured at the upper partot' a pocket of a garment or the like by adhesive or by the use ofdouble pronged staples pushed through the material ot the 'liront andrear portions 3l, 32 respectively and into the liront and rear materialsof the pocket and bent over to be concealed. Such double pronged staplesmay be molded Within the body oi' the front and rear portions 31, 32, itdesired. i

rllhe depending members in one iiorin ot my invention oii the type shownin Fig. 7 are preferably substantially Vflat for the 'liull Width oi'ithe pocket, with slits and at in tervals of approximately the Width oiia pen or pencil, the body portion oli the liront and rear strip portions30, 31 slightly concave, as indicated similarly in Fig. 9, to readilyreceive a pen or pencil. Such flat form oli my invention enables mypocket clasp to be manufactured in multiple lengthsI similar to themanufacture ot rubber bands and cut and stamped to the proper shape,

thereby materially cheapening its production. My invention of the formof the type shown in Fig. 7 may also have its depending portion 33corrugated similar to the aforesaid corrugations 12.

In Fig. 8, l have shoivn my duplex pocket clasp in the form of anendless ring 36, flattened out to provide opposing ring portions 37, 38,each of which include depending corrugated or flat tongues 39, arrangedin opposing relation. The tongues 39 engage the pen or pencil assimilarly indicated in Fig. 9. Such ring 36 may be cut from lengths oftubing corrugated or iiat and cut to the contigui-ation ot the tongues39.

rlhe ring 35 When flat is secured Within and adjacent to the upper edgeof a garment pocket or the like by any suitable means. Preferably, thesecurement is attained by applying a i'ilm or thin strip otl speciallyprepared rubber which becomes an adhesive at a slightly elevatedten'iperature, and interposing such film betiveen the outer and innerlinings ot the pocket and the outer and inner portions 87, 38 of thering 86, by applying a moderately heated iron to compress the ring 3Gand bind my pocket clasp Within the pocket.

Then desired, my pocket clasp 3G may be removed from a pocket bythe useof a heated iron, thereby rendering the rubber adhesive tluid, andpermitting` the pocket clasp 3G to be pulled from engagement Within thematerial of the pocket, and facilitating reneivals.

ln a similar manner, my pocket clasp in the various JEorms hereindescribed, may be positioned Within the pocket of purse or of a coinholder or applied to the material of a garment or the like, torremovably holding a pen or pencil or the like, which forms areparticularly for ladies use.

ln a similar manner, my clasp may be employed to retain cigars of thesame or varying sizes.

It vvill be noted that the respective articles retained in my pocketclasp may be of differ-ent diameters or different thicknesses, eacharticle being retained by a set ot' depending members independently ofthe remaining sets of depending members, whereby all articles areindividually retained by my pocket clasp.

My pocket clasp may be applied into a pocket or the like by the use ot'a thin, flat steel band encircling the upper edge of my clasp,particularly of the endless form, as shown in Fig. 8, such steel bandhaving` a small clip at either end for gripping the edge of the pocketat its corners. Such steel band may be enclosed in the mold Whilecasting the rubberor like material of the clasp, to derive a unitaryproduct. To position such iorm ot pocket clasp in a pocket, the combinedclasp and band spring is collapsed from end to enol and the spring` isallowed to spring back into the corners of the pocket, with the clipsoverlapping the edges at the corners ot the pocket, and thus iirmlyholding my clasp in place.

Whereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific termsthereof, it Will be understood that many changes and modilicationsmay bemade Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l claim: l... A pocket clasp 'for pens, pencils or like articlescomprising oppositely disposed members otl yieldabie resilient material,the upper portions of said members being outivardly flared for'facilitating the entry ofthe article therein, the lower portions ofsaid men'ibers being slittcd to provide depending spaced portions andmeans formed of still resilient material engaging with and for normallyyieldingly holding the depending spaced portions ot one ot said memberstov/ard corresponding depending portions of the other oit said members.

Q. A pocket clasp ior pens, pencils or like artic-les comprisingoppositely disposed members ot' yieldable resilient material, the upperportions'ot said members being outwardly flared tor facilitating theentry of the article therein, the lower portions of said m-unbers beingslittcd to provide depending` spaced portions and means formed of stillresilient material engaging with and 'for normally holding the desending portions ot said oppositely disposed members yicldingly toivardone another. i l

3. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having spaced depending corrugations, saidcorrugations extending curvedly toward one another to thereby engage apen or pencil, said depending corrugations being arranged to formrecesses i'or receiving a pen or pencil. il

4. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members of resilient material having dependingcorrugations, said corrugations extending curvedly toward one I@anotherto thereby engage a pen or pencil, said depending corru-gations beingarranged to form recesses 'for receiving a pen or pencil.

5. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils comprising a member havingdepending spaced corrugations and arranged to be folded upon itself andpositioned in a garment pocket or the like to locate the dependingcorrugations in successive substantial alignment and to position saidcorrugations to extend curvedly toward one another and thereby engage apen or pencil.

6. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils comprising a member of resilientmaterial having depending spaced depending corrugations curved in acertain uniform direc.- tion and arranged to be folded upon itself andpositioned in a garment pocket or the like to locate the dependingcorrugations in successive substantial alignment and to extend cnrvedlytoward one another.

7. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending portions, said dependingportions being arranged to form individual recesses for receiving a penor pencil and means Yfor holding said oppositely disposed members at alocation intermediate of their ends.

8. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending portions, said depending.portions being arranged to form individual recesses tor receiving a penor pencil and resilient means for holding said oppositely disposedmembers at a location intermediate ott their ends.

9. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending portions, said dependingportions being arranged to Yform individual recesses for receiving a penor pencil and sliding means for holding said oppositely disposed membersat a location intermediate of their ends.

10. A pocket clasp lor pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending corrugations, saiddepending corrugations being arranged to form individual recesses forreceiving a pen or pencil and means ifo-r holding said oppositelydisposed members at a location intern'iediate of their' ends.

1l. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending corrugations, saiddepending corrugations being arranged to 'form individual recesses lorreceiving a pen or pencil and resilient means Jfor hold- 'ig saidoppositely disposed mei'nbers at a lo ation intermediate of their ends.

l2. A pocket clasp 'lfor pen and pencils ard the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having` depending ccrrugations, saiddepending corrngations being arranged to form individual recesses forreceiving a pen or pencil and sliding means 'for holding said oppositelydisposed members at a location intermediate oli' their ends.

13. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like,A comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending fiat portions, saiddepending portions being Yarranged to form individual recesses forreceiving a pen or pencil and means for holding said oppositely disposedmembers at a location intermediate oi their ends.

14E. A pocket clasp tor pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending liat portions, saiddepending portions being arranged to form individual recesses forreceiving a pen or pencil and resilient means for holding saidoppositely disposed members at a location intermediate of their ends.

l5. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprisingoppositely disposed members having depending iat portions, saiddepending portions being arranged to form individual recesses forreceiving a pen or pencil and sliding means for holding said oppositelydisposed members at a location intermediate of their ends.

16. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, comprising anendless member having laterally spaced, depending portions and a band otstill', resilient'material encircling its upper edge to be compressedand allowed to spring into the corners of a pocket or the like.

l?. A pocket clasp for pen and pencils and the like, conlprising anendless member having laterally spaced, depending portions and a bandet' stili, resilient material encircling its upper edge to be compressedand allowed to spring int-o the corners of a pocket or the like, saidband being provided with spaced clips tor impinging on the edge or thepocket.

18. A pocket clasp l'or pen and pencils and the like, comprising anendless member having laterally spaced, depending portions and a bandor' stiff, resilient material encircling its upper edge to be compressedand allowed to spring into the corners or a` pocket or the like, saidband being provided with spaced clips for impinging on the edge ot thepocket adjacent to the corners of the pocket.

In testimony whereof l have signed this specification this 29th day oitNovember,

JGHN A. EVVEN.

